San Rafael police say mystery woman in bank photos could be linked to burglaries

San Rafael police are seeking help identifying a woman whose image was captured on camera while she allegedly cashed bad checks, saying she could be involved in residential burglaries in the city.

Investigators pulled the surveillance images from bank machines at two Westamerica branches, one at 1515 Fourth St. in downtown San Rafael, the other at the Strawberry Village Shopping Center.

The images were taken July 22 while the woman was allegedly depositing fraudulent checks into an account that was opened under a false name, said San Rafael police Detective Marc LaPlante. The account has been shut down by the bank.

The San Rafael Police Department, which has been coping with an outbreak of 30 to 50 residential burglaries in recent months, suspects the woman could be linked to some of those cases, Sgt. Mike Vergara said Tuesday.

"We believe she's from here in Marin," Vergara said.

Anyone with information about the woman's identity is asked to call the San Rafael Police Department at 485-3000.